Sunday, December 09, 2012

Has he no idea how this change could affect his delicate SCHLORP and THUNDERCORK numbers!?

Mark Reynolds, who spent the past two seasons as a starting corner infielder with the Orioles, has agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $6 million plus incentives with the Cleveland Indians, according to an industry source.

Reynolds, 29, hit .221 with 23 homers and 69 RBIs in 135 games last year after a 2011 season in which he hit a team-leading 37 homers in 155 games.

The Orioles held an $11 million option on Reynolds for 2013 that the club declined this offseason, preferring instead to buy it out for $500,000. They also could have taken him to arbitration this winter—where he likely would have made roughly $9 million after earning $7.5 million last season—but instead did not offer him a contract, allowing him to become a free agent. At the time, club executive vice president Dan Duquette said the team was not opposed to bringing him back, but would first allow him to test his value on the open market.

It became pretty clear that the Orioles were moving on when they didn’t attempt to make Reynolds an offer before non-tendering him a contract and when they did not meet with his representatives during baseball’s winter meetings in Nashville.

Reader Comments and Retorts

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Reynolds actually looks to have been a little unlucky with his BIP in 2012. His LD% popped back up to 17% after two years at 13%. Also his HR/FB % was his lowest since 2008. His Strike looking percentage jumped from 23% to 27% while his strike swinging percentage dropped from 28 to 24%. Maybe trying to make more contact is not his thing.

I like Reynolds, but the handwringing over this decision by some orioles fans is bizarre. Reynolds didn't provide much value last year, and while bringing him back for a year at $6M wouldn't have been a bad move, it's hardly going to make or break this team. If anything, this decision shows that Duquette isn't just assuming that the orioles are going to repeat what they did last year and that no moves are necessary (although it would be nice if they picked up another hitter...I'd love to get Youkilis for a year).

I like Reynolds, but the handwringing over this decision by some orioles fans is bizarre. Reynolds didn't provide much value last year, and while bringing him back for a year at $6M wouldn't have been a bad move, it's hardly going to make or break this team.

I don't think it's major handwringing, but an undercurrent of concern. This does really put a hurt on team depth, and I'm not sure where DD is going to find this 'other hitter' that the club really needs. Mark seemed like a good one-more-year pickup to me.

I think of Reynolds as being like Russ Branyan. The big difference is that Reynolds hits righty, and it seems like he's actually worse defensively -- I never heard Branyan's fielding described in the same ghastly terms as Reynolds' 3B defense was in '11. Other than that, they're both power hitters, both 3B/1B, both strike out at record paces, and now Reynolds is hitting the same teams. (I suspect Branyan was better, honestly, but was less healthy and didn't catch any other breaks either.)

But he's going to cost a lot more, take multi years, and 'need' to play every day.

I saw Mark as a useful insurance policy. He's become quite the first sacker, and if he hits a bit better (which I think he will), he gives you a solid option. at 6M these days, that's a chance worth taking.

Cleveland puts a lot of guys on, and doesn't hit any home runs. This makes sense as a cheap one year option. There's a strong sense of 'what's the point'?, but you need to put forth a token effort to win games.

There's a strong sense of 'what's the point'?, but you need to put forth a token effort to win games.

Speaking of which, I took a look at their 2012 numbers at baseball reference earlier today, because "what's the point" was my first thought, too, so I wanted to see what their roster looked like. Holy god was their starting rotation awful last year. The ERA+ for their top 6 (by innings) pitchers:

Speaking of which, I took a look at their 2012 numbers at baseball reference earlier today, because "what's the point" was my first thought, too, so I wanted to see what their roster looked like. Holy god was their starting rotation awful last year. The ERA+ for their top 6 (by innings) pitchers:

I just went to look and saw that Roberto Hernandez made a few starts for them. He needs to at least use a middle initial.

I never heard Branyan's fielding described in the same ghastly terms as Reynolds' 3B defense was in '11. Other than that, they're both power hitters, both 3B/1B, both strike out at record paces, and now Reynolds is hitting the same teams.

Your first statement negates your second. Reynolds is not a third baseman and anyone who thinks of him as one is kidding themselves. However, he's passable at first base and, as an Orioles fan, I wouldn't have minded bringing him back for another year.

Now the Orioles very much need to sign another bat (if not two)- either someone who can play first base like the aforementioned Laroche or the oft-suggested Youkilis, or they have to pick up a full-time DH and hope that Davis gets better defensively by playing everyday.

By authority of BBTF, I hereby confer upon him the name of Fausto Carmona, as well as his past, present, future, and mother. And I further decree that everything will be just like it was before all this happened! And no one will ever mention it again... under penalty of torture.